Final answer:
In the scientific method, researchers express their expectations as a theory in the hypothesis and analysis stages. This involves forming a tentative explanation, testing it, and analyzing the results to see if the hypothesis is supported or not. The correct stages are a) Hypothesis, Analysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Stages of the Scientific Method
In the scientific method, researchers express their expectations as a theory in the hypothesis and analysis stages. A hypothesis is a tentative explanation formed after making observations and is used to predict the outcomes of experiments. Then, during analysis, scientists rigorously test the hypothesis and study the results to determine if their initial expectations are correct.
The correct answer to the question is a) Hypothesis, Analysis. In these stages, a scientist's expectation is formulated into a hypothesis that can be empirically tested through observation and experiments, ultimately leading to an analysis of results that will either support or refute the hypothesis. This process highlights the scientific method's focus on obtaining knowledge through systematic investigation and evidence-based conclusions.